With graduation behind you, it may seem like the hard work is over. You toured campuses, scored that coveted acceptance letter, and walked across the stage to retrieve your diploma. While it’s true that summer is made for having fun, it’s also the perfect time to prepare mentally and physically for your next life adventure: college.
Use your time wisely, balancing the minutes between sun and fun and checking off these ideas for productive things to do over the summer to smooth the transition ahead.
Get Organized
It could take an entire summer to do this. Use your free time to figure out what you need to buy for college, what you want to take with you if you’re going away to school, and how you can keep your schedule straight once you start classes. Invest in a calendar — either an app on your phone or an old-school print calendar — to note important dates like when classes start and stop, midterms, finals, and vacation dates. This helps you set good study habits and prioritize your time right at the onset.
Organize Your Finances
When it comes to productive things to do over the summer before college, this one is possibly one of the most important steps for minimizing stress once you start school. Having an upfront understanding of the expenses you are expected to cover and the expenses covered by parents and financial aid is essential. Depending on the state of your bank account, you might need to take on a part-time job during the summer or during the semester to supplement your income.
Spend More Time with Family
While many summer activities for college students revolve around connecting with friends, it’s important to also include spending a little extra time with your parents, grandparents, and siblings in your plans. Once you’re in the groove with college, even your summers could be filled with extra classes, internships, and working.
Connect with Your Roommate
If you will be living in a dorm, you’re going to be sharing living space with a roommate for at least the next semester or two. Start by making a phone call or friend request on social media to break the ice and hopefully start a friendship. You could even set some early ground rules for visitors and noise at the dorm so you can both be good roommates.
Invest in Some Furnishings
Having a good desk lamp, comfortable bedding, and fun décor can really help make college feel like your home away from home. If you’re moving into an off-campus apartment, consider easily outfitting your space with furniture rental from CORT. You get the convenience of having stylish furniture delivered and set up for you at an affordable package price that never changes for easy budgeting.
Don’t forget to be kind to yourself. It’s natural and normal to feel a little anxious when you’re heading off to college. When you follow these tips for summer activities for college students, you start feeling like a campus pro in no time.
